If you’re concerned about your home’s electrical system, hiring an electrician as soon as possible is essential. They can ensure all the systems are up to code and safe for your family.

Keeping your electrical system in top condition can help avoid future issues and potential fires. 

Dim or Flickering Lights

Dim or flickering lights are an indication that there is a problem with your home’s electrical system. This can occur in both newer and older homes.

This problem may be a symptom of a more significant issue, such as outdated house wiring or an electrical panel issue.

It can also be a symptom of excessive voltage, which can be a fire hazard if it’s not addressed by an electrician quickly.

Light switches that don’t always work correctly are another common sign of a problem with your electrical system. Loose wiring connections in the switch, the outlet, or the circuit breaker box could cause this.

Circuit Breaker Tripping

Circuit breakers are designed to shut off electricity to protect your home and appliances from a fire. They also help prevent overheating and other electrical issues in your electrical system.

A tripped breaker can indicate a more significant problem with your wiring. It may mean your circuit is overloaded, there’s a shortage in the wiring, or your breaker needs to be upgraded.

In some cases, a tripped breaker can also be caused by a ground fault surge. This happens when a hot wire touches your house’s grounding or metal outlet box, causing superconductivity that overwhelms your circuit.

Fuse Blowing

If you have a blown a fuse in your home, it is a sign that your circuits are overloaded and that you need to hire an electrician. The fuse box and circuit breaker boxes protect your home from a short circuit or excess current by tripping a switch or cutting power to the faulty circuit.

A blown fuse typically occurs when an electric circuit shorts out because of loose wire connections, damaged wires, or a malfunction in one of the appliances plugged into the course. Start by unplugging all the lamps and appliances in a room that has lost power and replace the burned-out fuse with a new, identically rated fuse.

After you have replaced the blown a fuse, turn on all your lights and essential plug-in appliances that use more than a single plug-in socket, with care not to overload the circuit you are working on. If the same fuse blows again, call a professional electrician for assistance.

High Electric Bills

If you’ve seen a sudden spike in your electric bill, it’s a good indication that you need an electrician to help you resolve your home’s electrical issues. High electric bills often happen because of inefficient appliances or utilities that have been moved to a different pricing schedule.

Another common reason for an unusually high electric bill is that you’re using a lot of phantom power, which means that your electronics and appliances still draw electricity even when turned off. Keeping devices like chargers (computers, phones), TVs, game consoles, and microwaves plugged in when they’re not in use is a massive waste of energy.

Faulty Wiring

If you notice that one or more of the lights in your home flicker, it could be a sign of faulty wiring. This is because the circuit isn’t receiving consistent power, which can lead to overheating and sparking.

When the wiring is damaged from age, bending, corrosion or heat, it needs to be replaced quickly by an electrician.

Another way to tell if your wiring is faulty is to physically feel the areas around your outlets without touching them. If these areas are hot or give off small vibrations, it’s a sign that the wires have been exposed and are now a danger to your safety and your family.

Smoke smells near electrical outlets and at your electrical panel clearly indicate that the wires have burned. This can be a severe fire hazard and should be addressed immediately by an electrician from reputable electrical companies.